What is the largest amount of fat that I can have safely removed through lipo?

Thank you for your question. While you can liposuction several areas at once there is a limit to how much fat can be removed safely. Risks from liposuction increase significantly when over 5 liters of fat are suctioned out. We usually stay below this limit for patient safety. We’ve found that we’re able to achieve dramatic improvements for our patients with 2 to 4 liters of liposuction, depending on their needs. That said, you definitely have to choose your surgeon correctly and make sure that he/she has the training and experience to meet your goals with absolute safety.  A key quality indicator is Board Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  Don’t settle for less than a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with specialized expertise in this procedure.

It is strongly recommended not to exceed 5 liters liposuction aspirate in a single setting.  Having a BMI > 30 will increase your risk for related complications.

The generally accepted safe limits of liposuction volume is 5 liters (although recent studies suggest this hard limit may actually vary with BMI) in an office setting. This number may vary somewhat from state to state or region to region (4 liters in Florida). 
These recommendations, however, are not arbitrary. They are ultimately based upon studies of post operative liposuction patients and the subsequent fluid shifts that occur after large volume procedures. For this reason, overnight monitoring in a hospital is recommended when these limits are exceeded. It is also important to remember that this is not a pure fat aspirate i.e. 11 lbs. or 5 liters is not the equivalent of 11 lbs of pure fat. Additionally, some fat can be expected to be lost during processing.
Whether fat is re-injected or not is irrelevant. The issue is more a function of fluid shifts more than actual fat removal.
As always, it is best to discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).